Following the retirement of Bert Robledo and BRAVO FILIPINO in 2015, DZFE has put together a compact new show to meet the need for a program with a local focus. MAESTRO FILIPINO is a half-hour pop-up feature for “music with a connection to home”, presented by the station’s own hosts, and featuring interviews, in-studio sessions and recordings with local and Manila-based classical music artists. The program’s first run began the week of July 23 with soprano Kay Balajadia-Liggayu and pianist Rudolf Golez, ahead of the MusicArtes production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine. It has since featured the young guitarists of the Kabataang Gitarista Program, pianist Abelardo Galang II, tenor Arthur Espiritu and pianist Najib Ismail for their presentation of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin, and others.
MAESTRO FILIPINO takes its title from a series of classical music concerts mounted in the past by FEBC Philippines. Among its aims is to encourage local conversations on the music itself; and to direct attention to music-driven activities in the metro.
Each episode of a MAESTRO FILIPINO run airs thrice a week (Sat 1600, Wed 200, Thu 1200).